Slowmelt 2011: La Niña Delays Freshet and Planting

With the La Niña cycle that has been present in the equatorial Pacific Ocean throughout the 2010-2011 winter just beginning to weaken, freshet may be some time yet.

In some cases, snow is continuing to accumulate with low and mid elevation basins showing above average snowpacks (see picture above on home page). Environment Canada are forecasting cooler than normal conditions through the Spring, which is indicative of normal La Niña effects. Tree planting startups across the Interior may be pushed back in some areas as much as two weeks. Much depends on the persistence of moist and colder Pacific frontal systems which have dominated the weather this month.